Coupling



(No Model.)

W. A. SMITH 86 J. H. HUGHES.

HAME COUPLING.

INVENTOR: 9M2. 4212222; ym BY ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23

WITNESSES:

N. FEIEns fiawmho n mr, Walhlnglon. I10.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SMITH AND JOHN H. HUGHES, OF VVOODLAWVN, NEBRASKA.

HAM E-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 336,763, dated February 23, 1886.

Application filed July 15, 1885. Serial No. 171,711. No model.)

1 which have projections G upon their bends to To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, VVILLIAM A. SMITH and JOHN H. Huonns both of Woodlawn, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hame-Gouplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of one of our improved hame-couplings, the hames and collar being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coupling, part being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken through the line a: m, Fig. 2.

The object of this invention is to provide couplings for the upper ends of hames, which shall be constructed in such a manner as to prevent the horses neck from being pinched and thus made sore, and which will keep the horses neck cool, and can be adjusted for use on larger or smaller horses, as may be re quired.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the coupling, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then claimed.

A represents a plate of malleable iron or other suitable metal, and which is made with its middle part arched, and with an aperture in its center to induce a circulation of air at the back of the horses neck to keep it cool.

Upon the side edges of the wings of the plate A are formed grooved flanges B, to receive the side edges of the plates 0, which are secured in place by thumb-screws D. The thumb-screws D pass through slots 0 in the middle parts of the plates 0 and screw into a hole, a, in the wings of the main plate A, so that by loosening the screws D the plates 0 can be readily moved out or in to adjust the coupling to larger or smaller horses, as may de desired.

To the adjustable plates 0, near their inner corners, are hinged, by staples E or other suitable means, the ends of the arms of the loops F, through which the hames are passed, and

rest beneath the strap-loops of the hames, and thus support the said hames in place. The projections G are recessed, as shown in Fig. 2, for the sake of lightness.

\Vith this construction the hames can be adjusted, as the size of the horses neck may require, by swinging the loops F inward from the plates 0 and then slipping the said hames up or down to bring the desired strap-loops over the projections G. With this construction, also, the hames will be held securely in place, and their lower ends can be spread apart in harnessing and unharnessing the horse without get-ting them out of place.

Another advantage of this construction is that when the lower ends of the hames are drawn together upon the collar the said collar will be forced upward against the plate A, and its upper end will be spread or forced out ward against the upper parts of the hames, so that the back of the horses neck cannot be pinched, and air can pass between the said upper part of the collar and the horses neck to keep his neck cool.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A hame-coupling constructed substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of a main plate having arched and apertured middle part and grooved side flanges, and adjustable side plates carrying hinged loops to receive the hames, as set forth.

2. In a hame-coupling, the combination, with the main plate A, having arched and ap ertured middle part and grooved side flanges, of the adjustable side plates, 0, secured in the said grooved flanges by thumb-screws D, and the hame-receiving loops F, hinged to the said adjustable plates and provided with projections G, to engage with the strap-loops of the hames, substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM A. SMITH. JOHN H. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

B. BARNWELL, A. V. JOHNSON. 

